Between the Blinks

In the past week and a half, I’ve said another goodbye to Lifa, taken a bath in a bucket, passed out candy to the children’s ward, soaked in pools of mineral water, showered in the Middle East, watched three movies on a tiny plane screen, surprised my little sister, eaten Mexican food at least 4 times, walked barefoot on the beach, celebrated the start of a new family, watched Dancing with the Stars with NaNa, spent too many hours in Target’s aisles… and so much more.

I’m whirring.

I’m thrilled to be back in Texas today… even with this unfortunate Benadryl – jet lag combination. I want to see everybody and do everything! My heart and my eyelids are trying to stretch around the world – to hold, to feel and to taste it all.

Today, I sat across a table with my best friend since kindergarten.

We talked about injustice in Africa and bombings in America.

So many realities our hearts and eyes weren’t designed to behold.

She looked at me with clear, sure and tearful eyes and said, “I’m ready for Jesus to come back.”

Me too.

There might be more bombs, more burns, and more broken hearts broadcasted while we’re still blinking in today’s realities. Some days I want to just squeeze my eyes shut and not see what’s between the blinks. Some days I can’t see through them anyway because of sorrow’s floods.

Our eyes weren’t designed for the images on the 5 o’clock news.

Soon we’ll use them for what they were fashioned for…

To be filled with forever and always.

To gaze with googly-awe into eternity.

To be locked with Love’s.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am known.” I Cor 13:12

He’s coming to wipe our tears. And to change our vision.

He’s coming to restore our eyes to what they were made for.

So today I’m asking for hope between the blinks. I’m asking Love, Love that rejoices with Truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres to give me a glimpse at forever’s promises.

If Love can still hope when Love’s very image is being broken and burned, then I can still love.

And I can still hope.

And I can keep blinking in today’s realities, but seeing what Love sees.